5

Someone is answering me to use a command (kpsewhich --help) in the command prompt. I have a stupid question: what is the "command prompt" and how can I use it in Texmaker?

Community
  • 1
Emanuel
  • 169
  • 1
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Command_Prompt if you use Windows. If you use Linux, we call it Terminal http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terminal_emulator – Sigur Nov 18 '13 at 14:06
  • 3
    Ah, on Windows, press the Windows key (that one with the logo) + R to open the Run box. Then type cmd and hit enter. – Sigur Nov 18 '13 at 14:07
  • 2
    Open TeXmaker-->Go to Tools menu--> Open Terminal (3rd from bottom) on Latest version: Texmaker 4.1 – texenthusiast Nov 18 '13 at 14:59
  • In an effort to make the Q clear, I have made an edit , hope this is what you are looking for ? include any more details to give clarity. – texenthusiast Nov 18 '13 at 15:19
  • 5
    Close Voters: The OP seems to be new, Please give him some time until the Q crosses the front roll, don't close immediately within 1 hr and in a hurry. The Q seems to be on on-topic (LaTeX Editor) and related command line approaches are very important and life saving for verifying installation/packages. – texenthusiast Nov 18 '13 at 15:21
  • @texenthusiast: Yes exactly. Thanks for the editing. Your comment about the path was useful, I think should be updated to a response.
    I previously stated that is not good that regular users are maintaining this information asymmetry with regard to new users. I think this initial gap should be reduce not increase. Of course is easier to put a question "on hold" but is not a win-win situation to none of users. I'm not saying: "don't put my question "on hold"", I'm just asking you put in the place "I'm a new user" is it useful or not?     – Emanuel Nov 18 '13 at 16:46
  • @Emanuel I have made some answer based on sigur's comments and mine, you can add or suggest any additions incase you could not follow. Thanks – texenthusiast Nov 18 '13 at 18:41
  • @texenthusiast: tlmgr was really useful. I think Sigur's comments are also useful to other users. Thanks – Emanuel Nov 19 '13 at 16:45

1 Answers1

8

As Sigur pointed out :

On Windows (Command Prompt): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Command_Prompt

Opening Command Prompt on Windows: press the Windows key (that one with the logo) + R to open the Run box. Then type cmd and hit enter or

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-vista/open-a-command-prompt-window

On Linux (Terminal): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terminal_emulator

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/UsingTheTerminal

Open Terminal In Texmaker:

Open TeXmaker-->Go to Tools menu--> Open Terminal (3rd from bottom) on Latest version: Texmaker 4.1.

Addendum for quick and powerful command line tools:

Verify a latex installation: Commandline/Terminal:

To verify/test a latex installation(TeXlive or MiKTeX) using commandline/terminal, one can use

latex small2e to get the small2e.dvi (or)

latex sample2e to get the sample2e.dvi

pdflatex small2e to get the small2e.pdf (or)

pdflatex sample2e to get the sample2e.pdf

pdflatex sample2e to get the sample2e.pdf

xetex opentype-info to get the opentype-info.pdf

Verify or install/detect an installation of class package using kpsewhich --help standalone path lookup tool

kpsewhich pkgname.sty and kpsewhich clsname.cls

Related Q & A : What is the quickest way to check whether I already have a given package?

Some command line tools on TeXLive distribution that work crossplatform(Windows/Linux/Mac)

tlmgr: TeX Live package manager

  • tlmgr update --self --all helps to keep updated distro with latest packages and bug fixes

  • tlmgr info pkg-name to know the version/revision of package and details etc

  • tlmgr install pkg-name to install a package

  • tlmgr Examples

texdoc/texdoctk : The powerfull documentation tool

Related Q Which books can I read via texdoc?

Remember commandline tools (CUI) instead of GUI's are more popular on Linux/Mac which really are life savers for debugging/scripting and much more. Even on windows it serves lot of advantages to verify any Editor specific bugs by cross checking on command line.

Note: On MiKTeX , I have no idea, anyone who can contribute are welcome to do so.

Community
  • 1
texenthusiast
  • 6,057